ERISLANDY Lara showed that size matters as he forced Danny Garcia’s withdrawal at the close of round nine. Boxing in the co-main event to Canelo-Berlanga, it was a difficult watch until Lara dropped Garcia at the end of the ninth, prompting Danny’s corner to request the end. Lara successfully defended his WBA middleweight title.
Carrying the weight well, Garcia had a look at Lara in the opening sessions of this 157-pound catchweight, but the analysis led to nothing. The fans booed, but cagey Lara is never in a hurry to please anyone.
The wisdom of putting these two together before the main event was still being questioned by the impatient crowd in round four, as Garcia’s offensive output was non-existent.
Lara’s snake charmer southpaw jab and left hand were causing blemishes on Garcia’s face. “Throw the left hand as he overreaches,” Ismael Salas told the Cuban between rounds five and six.
The oldest active world champion, 41-year-old Lara was never pushed outside his comfort zone by a man standing off, unable to let the hands go. Lara let his hands go at the close of the ninth, dropping Garcia for a count with a prodding left cross. That was enough for Angel Garcia who signalled to referee Thomas Taylor that it was time to end matters.
Erislandy Lara improved his record to 31-3-3 (19), while Danny Garcia, now 37-4 (21), said he had no excuses after stepping up in weight and attempting to be great.
